PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE www.pinebarrenstribune.com
@PineBarrensNews
facebook.com/pinebarrenstribune
Bass River Medford Medford Lakes Pemberton Pemberton Borough Shamong Southampton Tabernacle Washington Woodland
Vol. 1 - No. 26
Southeastern Burlington County’s News Leader
Group Home Planned in Tabernacle
February 25–March 3, 2017
Woodland Township School District Business Administrator Resigns
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—An informal, informational community meeting was held on Feb. 14 at Tabernacle Town Hall for residents regarding a proposed group home in Harrowgate East. The 80-minute meeting was facilitated by Mayor Stephen Lee IV. The meeting room was filled to near capacity. Residents of Flyatt Road (#104-150), Cutts Drive (#1-9), Inskeep Court (#7-11), Horseshoe Court (#1-6), Wicklow Drive (#32-44), Lavenham Court, North Drive, Alden Court, and Hanley Court received an invitation from the township to attend the meeting. Notification of the meeting was also posted to the township’s website. “I want to say that this is really important that you took the time to come out this evening,” Lee said. Lee was joined by Susan McCarthy, M.Ed., who is the state executive director of operations for REM New Jersey, which is part of New Jersey Mentor. New Jersey Mentor acquired REM New Jersey several years ago. New Jersey Mentor is a nationwide agency and has a presence in 30 different states. Lee was also joined by Thomas Boyd, who is the zoning officer and construction official for the township. Committeeman Joseph Barton was in the audience. “I thought it might be a good idea to have an information night and essentially connect the neighbors with the director of the group home so we can get a lot of questions answered and get off on a good foot in terms of having a new neighbor in town,” Lee said. “I think it is important to have that kind of relationship in our neighborhoods.” McCarthy said that she agreed with the premise that any time there are questions or concerns, the best way to manage them is meeting face to face with the community. “The part of New Jersey Mentor that I oversee is adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” McCarthy said. “We also have kids programming in the state. But I don’t have anything to do with that. We have a whole team of people that just deal with at-risk youth.” She said that she oversees group homes, day programs, community-based support and host homes. “We are in all but two counties in New Jersey,” McCarthy said. “We have 51 group homes, four day programs, 60 individuals who are being served in host homes, and a handful of folks that choose to receive services in their own home.”
GROUP>>PAGE 19
PHOTO BY TOM WALKER Maria Funches, longtime business administrator and board secretary for the Woodland Township School District, resigned on Jan. 23. The district has an enrollment of 146 students, all of whom attend the Chatsworth Elementary School. By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—Maria Funches, longtime business administrator and board secretary for the Woodland Township School District, resigned from her position effective at the close of business on March 29. The Woodland Township Board of Education announced on Jan. 23 that Funches had turned in a letter of resignation. The board also approved a corresponding separation and release agreement. The announcement of Funches’ resignation came after weeks of rumors and uncertainty. Funches disappeared from the district’s operations at the end of December. Her name was also scrubbed off the board’s Jan. 3 reorganization meeting agenda. On Jan. 7, when asked about Funches’ whereabouts, Misty Weiss, superintendent of schools, said that she was on a personal leave from the district. “I can confirm that there is currently no investigation into the mishandling of public funds,” Weiss said. “Regarding your personnel-related
question, it is inappropriate for the school district to publicly discuss confidential personnel matters.” It’s unclear when Funches submitted her letter of resignation. The resignation letter obtained through an Open Public Records Act request filed by the Pine Barrens Tribune does not contain a date of submission. Weiss refused to offer additional details about the circumstances which surround Funches’ resignation. “Please be advised that this is all the information I have to share on these subjects,” she said. The Pine Barrens Tribune obtained a copy of the separation and release agreement through an Open Public Records Act request. The agreement was signed by multiple parties on Jan. 13 and Feb. 1, including members of the school board and Funches. Funches was given 21 days to consider the agreement and had seven days to rescind it. “Funches herby submits her voluntary and irrevocable resignation effective at the close of business on March 29, 2017,” the agreement reads in
part. “Funches acknowledges and agrees that she freely and knowingly resigned from her employment, that her resignation was not the result of any fraud, coercion or duress, and that she was given the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of her choosing before deciding to tender her resignation.” Funches relinquished all her responsibilities on Jan. 3. However, she agreed to make herself available upon request during her leave of absence to assist the school board, superintendent, superintendent’s designee, and any designated interim employees with business office operations. She accrued 61 paid days off and will continue to draw down on those days off until March 29. The 61-day period during which Funches is drawing down on her paid time off is being referred to as a “leave of absence.” She cannot earn any additional paid time off for any reason or under any circumstance. She also cannot earn any other payment of any kind from the district.
ADMINISTRATOR>>PAGE 20
Now Direct Mailed to Over 2,250 Homes in LeisureTowne and 195 Homes in Hampton Lakes
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Pre-sorted Standard US Postage